In a tragic turn of events stemming from a seemingly trivial argument, 22-year-old Fred Byford Fleener IV, a male, lost his life on Saturday, November 14, 2015, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The fatal encounter occurred at his family's home and involved his own father, who claimed he 'snapped' after years of alleged abuse from his son.
The incident that led to the fatal shooting reportedly began over breakfast.
An argument erupted when Fleener IV became upset with his sister over the number of breakfast platters she had brought him. According to family members, his anger escalated, and he began hitting his sister and a cousin who was in a wheelchair. At this point, his father, 46-year-old Fred Fleener III, intervened. He retrieved a gun and shot his son in the chest. Emergency services were called, and the younger Fleener was transported to a hospital where he died during surgery.
Following the shooting, Fred Fleener III was arrested and initially charged with voluntary manslaughter. Family members described the deceased as a 'bully' who suffered from bipolar disorder and other mental health issues. They stated that he had recently stopped taking his medication and had a history of being violent and abusive towards them. His sister told authorities that their father had acted in self-defense. The elder Fleener told police, 'I just snapped. I couldn't take it anymore.'
Ultimately, Fred Fleener III accepted a plea deal. The voluntary manslaughter charge was dropped, and in June 2017, he was sentenced to two years of probation for reckless homicide.
